Jatau released after 18 months in detention

It was learned that Rhoda Jatau, a Bauchi woman who denounced the purported murder of Samuel Deborah in Sokoto State, is back on the loose after serving 18 months in jail.

Our correspondent was informed by a trustworthy source, who requested to remain anonymous, that Jatau was freed on bond on Friday as a result of interventions from the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and the Christian Association of Nigeria.

According to The PUNCH, Jatau, a mother of five, was arrested in May 2022 for blasphemy after posting a video criticising the lynching of Deborah, a student.

Deborah, a 200-level student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was killed brutally after posting a warning on a WhatsApp page about sending religious materials.

The source did not disclose the terms of Jatau's bail, nor the name of the court that had granted it, but she did state that the Inter-Religious Council had been instrumental in obtaining her release and bail.

“Following the outcry from the Christian community in Nigeria over the continued detention of Rhoda Jatau in Bauchi Prison, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria have swiftly intervened in the matter.

“We are pleased to report that Mrs Rhoda has been granted bail and subsequently released from detention today. We have high hopes that the case will end in praise. Let’s continue to uphold her in our prayers. The leadership of NIREC played a key role. Praise be to our God”, he told our correspondent.

Source